Watch-protector.



No. 864,635. PATENTED AUG. 27, 19707.

J, FIERZ.

WATCH PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED KAY 7,1907

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WATCH-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Application filed May 7,1907 Serial No. 372,381.

with said attachment and held in the vest pocket until designedly released by the owner of the watch.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to'the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view of the improved watch protcctor, in position for attachment upon the material of a pocket, shown partially in dotted lines; the pendant of a watch appearing in broken lines as engaged with the device; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side view of the watch protector having parts adjusted to receive the pendant or handle ring of a watch; Fig. 3 is a side view slightly modified as to the means for securing the device in a vest pocket, and also showing the details in locked adjustment; Fig. 4 is a front edge view of the device indicated as applied upon a watch, the latter being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, showing the improvement secured within a vest pocket and holding a watch by its pendant, the pocket being broken away for exposure of the details therein; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view showing the improved watch protector within a vest pocket in closed condition; and Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the device seen in direction of the arrow in Fig. l.

The invention as clearly represented consists of a thin resilient metal base strip 10 parallel on its side edges and having proper width and length for effective service, and to conduce to the latter the base strip is slightly arched. At each end of the base strip l0 respectively short transverse flanges a, a/ are turned upward, and adjacent to said flanges a securing means is turned downward, such means being either two similar pointed prongs b, b, or screw threaded limbs b 1), the latter being shown in Fig. 3. A spring bar 11 is mounted upon the base strip 10 at the centers of said parts, and preferably a thin liner plate 0 is inserted between the bar and strip, the three pieces being secured together detachably by a screw 0 or other suitable means. At "opposite ends of the spring bar 11 tongues d, d are formed, and respectively bent downward so as t0 seat upon the upturned flanges a, a. The tongues cl, d are reduced in width an equal degree at each side edge thereof, as appears clearly in Fig. 4, the purpose of which will presently be described. A shackle bow 12 is an important feature consisting of a strip of non-re silient metal, which is arched to give it a nearly semicircular form. Near one end the shackle bow 12 is widened as appears at a, and is perforated, the perforation being shaped in its defining wall so as to receive and loosely fit over the laterally reduced tongue that is inserted therein.

The lower transverse edge of the perforated end of the shackle bow 12 is reduced to give it wedge form, and is rendered convex on the inner side, as appears in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings. The lower wall of the perforation is at such a distance from said transverse edge as to give spring action to the shackle bow, due to its engagement with the end of the spring bar 11, as specified, so that if said shackle bow is folded to close it, a slight upward movement of the end thereof, which is opposite theone engaged by the tongue d, will adapt the shackle bow to rock upward and away into the position indicated in Fig. 2.

The width between the ends of the shackle bow 12 is such, that when said bow is folded the end opposite from a will be seated upon the spring-bar 11, near the tongue (1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

A latch-dog 13 is employed, consisting of a short, mainly flat metal strip, having the upper portion tapered edgewise and the lower end or toe thinned to give it wedge form, asshown at g. The toe g is curved laterally and perforated for the reception of the tongue d that fits loosely therein, said connection of the toe and end of the latch-dog adapting the latter to rock on the spring-bar 11 toward and from the flange a on the base-strip 10, and said flange limits the outward rocking movement of the latch-dog, as shown in Fig. 2. When the latch-dog is rocked into or near a vertical position, the toe 9 will press upon the resilient basestrip 10 and spread apart the engaged ends of the basestrip and spring-bar 11, which will tend to enforce the upward rocking movement of the latch-dog if it is started by a slight pressure of the thumb of the operator, the contact of the toe 9 upon the flange a limiting this rocking movement of the latch-dog (see Figs. 1 and 3). The upper end of the dog 13 is wider than the shackle bow 12, and affords a catch at each side edge for the thumb to engage for conveniently rocking the dog away from said shackle bow so as to release the dog from the bow piece.

011 the outer side of the shackle-bow 12, near its free end, a keeper-pin h is secured, that projects outward and passes through a perforation in the latch-dog 13 when the shackle-bow is closed, so as to seat its free end on the spring-bar 11 when the latch-dog is rocked upwardly, the spring tension of the base-strip and spring-bar co-acting to press the dog against the shacklebow and by means of the keeper-pin h, retain the shackle-bow locked from opening until the dog is rocked back from the bow by thumb pressure on the edge of the dog as before mentioned.

In arranging the safety device for service, it is placed within a pocket such as a vest pocket, and seated preferably upon a metal or cardboard planchet A, that forms a part of the pocket material, which is nearest to the person of the wearer when the garment is donned. The prongs b, b or screws 1), b if the latter are employed as a securing means, are passed through perforations in the planchet and rear side of the pocket and if the prongs are used, they are folded down upon suitable metal washers on the inner side of the vest lining or, in case the screw-bolts are used, nuts I) are screwed on the ends, into contact with washers or the like that are seated on said lining of the garment.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the relative position given to the device in the pocket, disposes the shackle-bow 12 toward the front side wall of the pocket, near the entrance thereinto, while the latch-dog 13 is at the right-hand end of the spring-bar, so as to be conveniently manipulated by the wearer of the vest having the improvement.

With the watch in either hand, the latch-dog 13 is pressed away from the bow 12 and the latter rocked into open adjustment sufliciently to permit the easy insertion of the pendant B on a watch C, and as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, a subsequent closure of the shackle bow 12 and upward rocking movement of the latchdog 13, will secure the watch from surreptitious removal by a thief. As the pendant of the watch may readily be grasped by the owner when the watch is to be removed from the pocket, and simultaneously the latchdog 13 be rocked away from the shackle bow, a pull on the watch will rock the shackle bow into open condition and release the watch.

As the picking of a watch from the pocket by a thief is generally effected by gently lifting it through the medium of the chain, it will be seen that the obstruction to such an action produced by the improvement will protect the watch from being stolen.

It may here be explained that the introduction of a washer, such as 0, between the spring-bar 11 and ba estrip 10 affords greater range for their spring action, and also in case the spring slightly weaken and the latchdog gets loose, a removal of the washer and re-connection of the parts 10, 11 will serve to tighten the pressure of the base-piece 10 upon the toe g and renew the force of the pair of springs so as to cause the latch-dog to act reliably.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A watch protector, comprising a base-strip having unturned flanges at its ends, a spring-bar secured centrally thereon, a curved shackle-bow, spring-hinged by one end on a corresponding end of the spring-bar, a latch-dog adapted for releasably holding the shackle-bow closed, and tangs on the base strip for securing the device in a pocket.

2. A watch protector, comprising a base-strip having lip-turned flanges on its ends, a springbar secured centrally thereon and having tongues on its ends, a curved shackle-bow having a slot perforation near one end, engaged with the corresponding tongue, a iatclrdog having a slot-perforation near one end that receives the other tongue, said latch dog being spring-pressed by the springbar, and a pin projecting from the shackle-bow which passes through a perforation in the latch-(10g when said dog is rocked into contact with the shackle-bow.

3. A watch protector, comprising an arched base-strip having lip-turned flanges at its ends, a spring-bar having a tongue at each end, a washer-plate secured centrally between ihe base-strip and spring-bar, a curved shackle bow having a slot-perforation near one end engaged with a corresponding tongue, a latch-dog having a slotperforation near one end engaged by the other tongue, said latchflog being spring-pressed by the spring-bar and the base-strip, a pin projecting from the shackle-bow which passes through a perforation in the latclrdog when said dog is rocked into contact with the shackle-bow, and means for securing the device in a pocket.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB FIERZ.

Witnesses WM. P. PAT'LON, l lviuiaiin B. llIARSHALL. 

